Improvement in fasteners for the meeting-rails of sashes



TENT

MORRISON FOSTER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

' IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENERS FOR THE MEETING-RAIL S OF SASHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,263, dated February 13, 1877; application filed August 4, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MORRISON FOSTER, of Pittsburg, in Allegheny county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Mode of Fastening the Meeting-Rails of Window-Sashes; and I here by declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to that class of looking devices known as fasteners for the meeting-rails of windowsashes, and consists in a hinged-bar attached to the meeting-rail of one sash, and drawn down from a vertical to a horizontal position across the meeting-rail of the other sash, and then moved laterally to lock the two sashes together; also, in the combination of the locking-bar with a spring, which performs the double function of pushing the locking-bar under the locking-hook, or in front of the abutment or stop, and of raising it to a vertical position when unlocked; and, also, in the combination of a self-acting pawl with the locking-bar to prevent the latter from being unlocked; all as hereinafter more fully described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan view showing the sash-fastener locked. Fig. 2 is a plan view (with the long arm of the locking-bar broken away at or about the line was, Fig. 1,) showing the fastener when the long arm of the locking-bar is up. Fig. three is a cross-section through line 3 3 Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

Ais a locking-bar, (which may be L-shaped,) hinged at a, and attached by means of shaft or pin b to lugs a a/ on a base-plate B, which base-plate B is fixed to the top part of the lower rail of the upper sash, inside the glass. The shaft b is longer than the width of the locking-bar A, so that when the latter is drawn from a "ertical down to a horizontal position it may be moved laterally along the shaft b to be locked, and also to make room on the shaft for the spring d. e is an abutment or lug fixed on the base-plate B, which prevents the locking-bar from being moved laterally when in a vertical position, and aids in holding the locking-bar in position when locked. f is a hook at one end of a base-plate, G, which base-plate is fixed to the top-bar of the lower sash. Under this hook f the lockin g-bar A passes laterally to lock the fastener. The lug g and hook f are both fixed to baseplate 0 and stand apart, opposite the lockingbar A, when the latter is up, it being drawn down between them before passing laterally under the hook f. h is a pawl attached to the locking-bar A, which engages with the lug g when the locking-bar is moved under the hook f, and prevents the fastener from being unlocked. This is especially useful in preventing the opening of the fastener from the outside by a knife inserted between the sashes. The pawl h has a small lever-extension beyond its fulcrum, to be used in raising the pawl. 01 is a spiral spring encircling the axis-shaft I), with one end fixed to lug a and the other end fixed to the locking-bar A, and so arranged that by a pushing-action it will cause t e locking-bar A to move laterally under the hook f, and by a torsional action it will bring the locking-bar A to a vertical position when released from the hook f. dis a hook on one side of the locking-bar A, which engages with the edge of the hook f and prevents the sashes from being wedged apart. This hook t may be made sloping part of the way from its point for the purpose of drawing the sashes closer together. To fasten the sashes, pull down the locking-bar A and it will lock itself, being actuated thereto by the spring 6!, the pawl h at the same time engaging with the lug g to prevent the locking-bar from being pushed back. To unfasten the sashes, it is only necessary to raise the pawl h, pull the locking-bar back laterally clear of the hook f and abutment 0 and it will rise to its vertical position by means of the torsional action of the spring d. In performing this operation, but one grip is necessary. The fastener can be locked by the bar A without the use of the spring d, but the device is more perfect with that function of the spring. This fastener is preferably made entirely of metal; and may be made of pieces punched out from plates or cast in molds, (with the exception of spring d and shaft 1).) The locking-hook f may be omitted, as the stop or abutment e prevents the raising of the action, and the stop 6 or book f, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the pivoted-pawl h, the locking-bar A, and the lug g, for automatically locking the device, substantially as and for the purpose described.

MORRISON FOSTER. Witnesses:

J. K. BAKEWELL, T. B. KERR. 

